Photos by Justin Lee. Audio available on YouTube, Spotify, and Podcasts.
The Christmas season and upcoming new year remind us to look back on our lives as well as forward into the future. For me, I ask questions like, “How can I be a better father? How should I plan to lead my family?”
To be honest, I find myself falling short as a father. The pressures to lead, protect, and provide can be overwhelming. How can I rest while still caring for my family?
I found an answer by looking at Joseph, the father of Jesus. Even in the most difficult of situations, his example of obedience was exemplary. He carefully carried his son and faithfully bore the burden of obedience. Here are three ways Joseph obeyed God.
1. Obedience in staying with Mary
When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. — Matthew 1:24-25
Before Joseph heard from the angel of the Lord that Mary was pregnant with Jesus by the Holy Spirit before they were married, he was secretly going to divorce her because he did not want her to be shamed. But when he heard from the angel of the Lord to stay with Mary, he obeyed seemingly without hesitation. She remained a virgin and he became an adoptive father. Joseph gave Jesus his name. Joseph stayed steadfast in unplanned and uncertain situations.
2. Obedience in escaping to Egypt
And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” — Matthew 2:14-15
Herod wanted to destroy Jesus, and we don’t know what options Joseph had running through his head. But when the angel of the Lord told him to flee to Egypt, Joseph quickly packed his bags while relaying the message to Mary. They fled by night and remained in Egypt until Herod had died. This was a big move literally and figuratively. Their safety was at stake, and Joseph followed in faith. He accepted and respected God’s plans for his family.
3. Obedience in journeying to Nazareth
And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene. — Matthew 2:23
Herod’s son Archelaus was now in charge, and this would challenge Joseph’s young family. He would now move to Israel, settling in Nazareth. It was a lowly city. Elsewhere in Scripture, Nathanael asks, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” This shows just how poorly it was regarded. Joseph’s life would be reoriented, and he was willing to obey to the point where he would humble himself by living in a humiliating city.
Death by Disobeying, Life by Obedience
Joseph’s obedience resulted in life. He protected Mary from shame, and he protected his son from slaughter. He found for his family a new life and home in Nazareth. It seemed like he was simply running away. But he was actually following and chasing after obedience in God.
Our first father, Adam, disobeyed God in the garden. The punishment was death and we would inherit his destruction. But the father of our Savior showed his son a better way. Jesus saw that when you sow obedience, you reap the reward of life.
Joseph led his family by following God. He didn’t ask questions. He didn’t need the entire plan laid out for him to study in detail. And although he wasn’t sure where God was going, he held Mary’s hand and carried his newborn son — trusting and obeying that God’s ways were good.
Like Father, Like Son
We don’t know much of Joseph’s relationship with his son as Jesus was growing up. But I think it’s safe to say that we can assume it was a good relationship. From his earthly father who adopted him as his own, Jesus learned to work as a carpenter and how to love women as a caregiver. But maybe most importantly—he learned how to obey God, his Heavenly Father.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8). Like father, like son. Jesus, our true and better Adam, was a true and better obeyer. His obedience would bring him death and destruction. But it would eventually lead to everlasting life. We can find true rest in his perfect obedience.
When we don’t know what to do, when we are faced with difficult decisions, or when we find it hard to persevere — we can look to the example of Joseph, the father of Jesus, who shows us that simple obedience will go a long way. And when we fall short, we can be sure that Christ’s perfect obedience will carry us the rest of the distance.